Can crushing device



Aug. 7, 1951 H. H. sMlrH CANCRUSHING DEVICE Filed May l0, 1950 5 l INVENTOR.

`33 (l2- 5/ LM' AT'roRNEK Patented Aug. 7, 1951 Unirse srArgs PATsNr OFFICE Homer H. Smith, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 10, 1950,'Serial No. 161 1.41

This invention relates to a can crushing device, and more particularly to a device of this character which includes a stationary anvil for supporting the can to be crushed and a vertically adjustable anvil for compressively engaging the opposite end of the can, together with manually operable mechanism for effecting vertical movements of said movable anvil.

It is the object of the present invention to pro vide a simplied and inexpensive can crushing device which is completely effective for the purpose intended.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a simplied can crushing device which includes an anvil, an upright column thereon, a

l 2 claims. (C1. 15a-'105) beingpivotally yjoined thereto by the transverse,- bolt I8 which extends through corresponding transverse openings in the upper ends of the column supports I and in the blocks I 'I at their one ends. A suitable nut I9 is mounted upon the e'nd of said bolt .for securing the same portions of the blocks I1, spacing thesame as vertically adjustable top anvil mounted upon said r v column, and an operating member pivotally joined to said column and connected by suitable linkage to said movable anvil.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjuncanvil downwardly depressed at the completion y of the crushing operation. A

Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken on line 3- of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5*-5 of Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set out.

Referring to the drawing the can crushing device includes the rectangularly shaped horizontal platform or stationary anvil II upon which may be positioned the can 32 for crushing as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. Said anvil includes the depending longitudinal legs I2 upon opposite sides thereof to thereby provide an effective mounting for said anvil. l

Upright column I3 with laterally extending anges I4 is secured centrally upon the anvil ILv adjacent one end thereof and transversely of its length, by means of the welds I5. The front portion of the column I3--I4 is cut away at its upper end dening the bifurcations or supports I6 as shown in Fig. 3.

A pair of elongated blocks I1 of rectangular cross-section are positioned upon said column at its upper end between the bifurcations I5,

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said handle beingeffectively secured to said blocks by the transverse bolts 2I.

The upper rectangularly shaped vertically movable crushing anvil 22 includes the upright vlateral or longitudinally extending flanges 23, by which anvil 22 is joined to the blocks I1 in the manner hereafter described.

A, `rectangular opening is formed within the top anvil 22 adjacent one end of a size such as to slidably receive the column I3-I4, there being also formed or secured upon anvil 22 an upstanding hollow rectangularly shaped guide collar which is adapted to also cooperatively receive said column, said collar in the present embodiment being secured at the top surface of anvil 22 by the welds 25.

A pair of parallel spaced links 2B are arranged upon opposite sides of anvil 22 with the respective lower ends of said links being pivotally joined to the flanges 23 of said anvil by the bolts 28 and nuts 21. It will be noted that the pivotal connection 21 is arranged adjacent the column I3-I4 as well as the collar 24.

The upper ends of the links 26 are kpivotally joined to the outer portionsof the spaced blocks I1 by means of the transverse bolt 29 with nut 30, said bolt extending through transverse openings at the upper ends of the links 26 and through the corresponding openings 34 formed within the blocks.

As shown in Fig. 3 a pair of hollow cylindrical spacers l3l are also mounted upon the bolt 29 being positioned intermediate the respective links 26 and the corresponding adjacent blocks I1.

In operation it is apparent that the blocks I1 are pivotally mounted at I8 at the upper end of the column I3-I4 and that the crushing operation is effected by pivotal downward movement of said blocks through manual pressure exerted upon the handle 20 in a counter-clockwise direction.

This pressure is transmitted to the horizontal movable anvil 22 by the pivotal links 26, and said anvil guidably mounted upon the column I3-I4 '3 is adapted to downward movement with respect to the anvil Il to operatively engage the upper -end of the can 32 which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Continued movement in a counter-clockwise direction of handle 20 effects a continued downward movement of anvil 23 until the can is fully crushed as shown at 33 in Fig. 2, said handle now being in a substantially horizontal position. It is apparent that movement in the opposite direction of handle 20 about its pivotal support I8 will elevate the anvil 23 upon the column |3-I4, permitting reception of another can to be crushed.

No doubt a suitable lubricant would be preferably employed upon the inner surface of the collar 24 or upon the column l3--I4, to minimize the friction between anvil 23 and said co1- umn and to facilitate raising and lowering of said anvil upon pivotal movements oi' the handle 20.

There are provided a plurality of spaced transverse openings 34 within the blocks I1 so that if desired the upper ends of the connecting links 26 may be joined to said blocks at a plurality of points if desired.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A can crusher comprising a supporting anvil, an upright column secured thereto, the upper end of said column being bifurcated defining a pair of spaced supports, a vertically adjustable anvil in parallel spaced relation to Said supporting anvil and slidably mounted upon said column, a pair of spaced blocks pivotally joined at their one ends .to said supports and positioned therebetween, an operating handle positioned between said blocks and adjoined thereto ex- 4 tending longitudinally outward therefrom, and a pair of parallel spaced links pivotally joined at their upper ends to said blocks adjacent their outer ends, and pivotally joined at their lower ends to opposite sides of said adjustable anvil adjacent said column.

2. A can crusher comprising a supporting anvil, an upright column secured thereto, the upper end of said column being bifurcated defining a pair of spaced supports, a vertically adjustable anvil in parallel spaced relation to said supporting anvil and slidably mounted upon said column, an operating member pivotally joined at its one end to said supports and positioned therebetween, the outer portion of said operating member serving as a handle, and a pair of parallel spaced links pivotally joined at their upper ends to said operating member outwardly of its pivotal connection with said supports, and pivotally joined at their lower ends to opposite sides of said adjustable anvil adjacent to said column.

HOMER H. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25,353 Todd Sept. 6, 1859 1,128,598 Gordon Feb. 16, 1915 2,128,630 Wright Aug. 30, 1938 2,150,812 Aukerrnan Mar. 14, 1939 2,321,911 Heaton June 15, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,161 France July 11, 1846 

